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Greencastle's Wilson named Indiana Gatorade "Runner of the Year"
State champion Emma Wilson of Greencastle High School was named the 2017-18 Gatorade Indiana Girls’ Cross Country Runner of the Year.
Wilson is the first winner of the award from Greencastle.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the racecourse, distinguishes Wilson as Indiana’s best high school girls cross country runner.
Wilson is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls’ Cross Country Runner of the Year award.
Gatorade has been honoring high school athletes nationally for the past 33 years, and has saluted cross country runners in each state since 2007.
The 5-foot-6 junior raced to the individual state championship this past season with a time of 17:45.9. Wilson took second at the Nike Cross Nationals Midwest Regional championships in 17:33.9 and crossed the line in 14th nationally at the NXN Final, earning Second Team All-American honors.
Wilson also broke the tape at the sectional, regional and semi-state championships, as well as the Ben Davis Invitational.
A talented musician, Wilson has volunteered locally on behalf of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“Emma sets big goals for herself and works hard to achieve them,” said Greencastle High coach Craig Jordan. “She’s a true student of the sport and a role model to all of her peers.”
Wilson has maintained a 3.86 GPA in the classroom. She is also the reigning state champion in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs in track.
The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Wilson will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program.
Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing an essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support. 12 spotlight grants – one for each sport – will be announced throughout the year.